Did you ever dream of living in the Middle East? The area is populated by some of the oldest and most exciting cultures on the planet. If you have, you may want to check out the American School of Dubai. It offers a good pay scale with excellent benefits. The area is developing some of the finest international schools and has been a center of international school activity for many decades.
ASD is an independent, coeducational day school for students from Pre-K to Grade 12. It is located in a suburb of Dubai approximately 15 minutes from the business center of Dubai. ASD was established in 1975. The school is accredited by Middle States.
ASD uses a US standards - based curriculum. It is a college preparatory school. ASD has a rigorous academic program. ASD offers AP courses for high school students. World languages include French and Spanish. The school has close to 1,000 students from the US and 44 other countries. 75% of the students are from North America.
The campus is located on 8 acres of land. The school has three main buildings, two pre-K villas, a two-story library, and elementary art center, and two gyms. There are 69 classrooms. There are four science labs, four computer labs, a large library, and extensive athletic facilities.
ASD employs 100 teachers. The majority of teachers are from North America. The average length of stay is eight years which is long for an international school. Generally this indicates that the teachers enjoy working at the school, although in the case of a school in an oil country, it could also mean that they have a number of employees who have spouses working on contracts with the oil industry.
The school year is 180 days and runs from 8:00 – 3:00 for all students except Kindergarten. The average class has 18-24 students. The student/teacher ratio is 11:1.
Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. All classrooms are networked. Computer instruction is provided at all grade levels. There are over 500 computers in the school. The school uses a traditional approach to computers with the usual computer curriculum – typing, word processing, computer graphics, use of email and the internet, etc.
Mission
The American School of Dubai, an independent, not for profit organization, offers what is best about American education in order to provide an educational experience designed to promote the maximum potential of it’s students. The school will challenge and assist students to become intellectually adept, thoughtful and ethical contributors to a global society.
ASD Beliefs
· Education is a shared responsibility of the administration and faculty, students, parents, and the school community.
· A safe and secure environment that is marked by respect for the rights of others and acceptance of personal responsibility is conducive to effective learning.
· Education must encompass the development of the whole individual: academic, aesthetic, creative, social, physical, and emotional.
· Students are individuals whose learning is influenced by age, prior knowledge, background, experiences, personality and physiology.
· The learning environment and educational process should recognize and accommodate different abilities, learning styles and interests. Education is most effective when the learner is actively engaged in the learning process.
· Education should provide meaningful and relevant experiences that are valuable beyond the classroom.
· The students’ school experience should foster self-esteem and self-confidence, which are integral components of the successful learner.
· Education encourages each student to develop positive character traits and assist them in understanding themselves and how their values relate to the world in which they live. Education should foster independent thinking to encourage creativity, thoughtful decision-making, critical analysis, and an appreciation and understanding of differences in opinion.
· The school experience should promote positive interpersonal relationships where students can work cooperatively with a partner, group, or team to become caring, sharing individuals, aware of the concern of others.
· The establishment of realistic, yet challenging, expectations and the learners responsibility for their achievement promotes excellence.
· Education should encourage responsible citizenship and global awareness.
· Education should instill in students a desire for lifelong learning.
· Well-planned change and purposeful institutional and personal renewal will lead to continuous improvement and enable the educational community to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
There are extensive extra-curricular activities offered at all grade levels including athletics and the arts and sciences. Older students may participate in the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. The EMAC includes athletics and the fine arts. Students may travel to other countries to participate in these activities.
The Elementary School
Elementary
students have specialized instruction in Arabic, art, computer, music, library, and physical education. There are also special needs classes in math and reading, along with assistance for mild learning disabilities.
The Middle School
Like all high quality schools, ASD recognizes that the Middle Years are a special time in the life of a child. Recognizing that, they have tailored their program to best help students develop academically, emotionally and socially. Students begin each day with their advisor. The academic day is divided into learning blocks based on a six-day rotation. Students have core classes as well as electives. The program is academically rigorous but also recognizes the strong role of the electives such as art, music and drama in the overall development of a child into a balanced individual. The school offers extensive after school clubs and sports. The Middle School also offers Week Without Walls; this is a week-long educational travel experience. These types of programs are common in the international school world.
The High School
In addition to an excellent academic program that offers what ASD considers to be the best of American education, the high school also recognizes that education is more than just mastering the “core” courses. They have a strong athletic program and compete in the Dubai Coast Conference and the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. ASD also has a performing arts program and a community service program for high school students.
Teaching at ASD
If you are a teaching candidate for ASD, this is what they are looking for in their teachers:
· Preferably a US or Canadian teaching certificate
· Recent teaching experience in an American or Canadian school
· Experience in the teaching position preferred
· Experience in coaching or supervision of extra-curricular activities
ASD attends Iowa, Search and ISS fairs. An interview at one of the fairs is required for employment.
Salary and Benefits
Minimum starting salary is USD$ 32,000
Maximum starting salary is USD$ 38,500
Maximum salary on scale is USD$ 47,900
One step on scale for each two years of prior experience up to initial step 5 on schedule.
The school offers a cost of living allowance adjusted yearly. This years allowance is between $8,404-$9,878 for a single teacher. This amount is paid in Dirhams.
ASD offers an impressive list of benefits. These are:
· Professional Development up to $1,200 per year.
· Dependent tuition free for up to two children
· Retirement is 18.2% of base salary if employee contributes 11.2%
· Life Insurance
· Medical Insurance -school pays 80%, employee pays 20%
· Dental – same as above
· Long term disability
· Housing allowance or housing is provided
· A settling in allowance of $8000 – 10,000 paid in Dirhams
· Transportation
· Initial airfare from home of record. At end of second year, home leave is paid.
· Shipping – initial amount of 800 pounds of air freight; final amount up to 1,200 pounds
· Immunizations, initial medical, and visa costs are paid for.
· Taxes – no local taxes
About Dubai
Dubai is one of the emirates in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is the second largest of the emirates after Abu Dhabi. The climate is generally quite hot with not much rain, although it does have a short wet season. The emirate is located in the Arabian Desert.
Although Dubai is an oil producer, its economy has been considerably diversified over the past twenty years or so. It is becoming a tourist destination and a travel hub in the Middle East. The airport is quite impressive. I once spent ten hours in transit with a group of students returning from an international mathematics competition, and we had no problems filling the time. Dubai is also becoming a hub for IT and financial services.
Because of the large expatriate population, Dubai is a multicultural city. You can hear a multitude of languages spoken in the streets, and there are many restaurants featuring food from around the world.
ASD has a very attractive website where you can find additional information. If you are interested in applying to ASD, there is an application online.
